Saudi Arabia is China’s top supplier of HDPE, LLDPE, MEG, DEG and styrene and also ships large volumes of polypropylene, liquefied butane gas and liquefied propane gas, among others. The recent attack on Saudi oil facilities will reduce exports of polymers and chemicals, at the same time as imports from the US are curtailed by punitive duties.
Continue readingUS Exports of Recycle Polymers Down 46% as of July 2019; Further Declines Likely From India’s Ban on Recycle Polymer Imports
The US shipped 406,000 tons of recycle polymers through July, 2019, down 46% from the same period in the prior year. China’s total ban on imports of recycle polymers as of 2018 was a key factor in the decline. Further declines in US exports are expected as India has announced it will also ban all recycle polymer imports.
Continue readingChina’s PE Imports Grow; Supplies from the US to Shrink Further
China imported 11 million tons of ethylene polymers through July, 2019, up 19% from the same period in the prior year. The US supplied 3.6% (397,000 tons) of the total, down from 5.2% (839,000 tons) at the end of 2018.
Continue readingUS Exports of MEG Head to Europe, Korea, Brazil
The United States shipped record amounts of MEG from May through July, 2019. Exports to several European markets, and also to Korea and Brazil, were up sharply.
Continue readingChina’s P-Xylene Imports Fall Sharply Following Manufacturing Push
Imports for June 2019 fell to their lowest levels in two years
Continue readingSlower Growth in Global Trade Projected in 2019 for Liquefied Gases
Latest import/export statistics from all available countries indicate slower growth in global trade volume in 2019 for LNG, liquefied propane gas and liquefied butane gas versus 2018. Because global trade is driven by global demand, the trend in world trade volume generally indicates the trend in world demand.
Continue readingGlobal Trade Projected up 6%-9% in 2019 for Polyethylene; Down Slightly for Polypropylene
Latest import/export statistics from all available countries indicate strong growth in global trade volume for polyethylene by year end 2019 but a contraction for polypropylene. Because global trade is driven by global demand, the trend in world trade volume generally indicates the trend in world demand.
Continue readingUnited States is Now the World’s Largest Importer of PET Film/Sheet, Surpassing China
The US imported 191,000 tons of PET film/sheet through June, 2019, up 23% from the first half of 2018. Volumes exceeded those into China, which was the world’s largest importer in 2018.
Continue readingUS LNG Exports Rise Steadily, and Shift to Western Europe
The United States exported 13.5 million tons of LNG through May, 2019, up 50% from the same period in 2018.
Continue readingGlobal Polypropylene Trade Volume Up 2% Through May, 2019
The volume of polypropylene homopolymer traded globally through May 2019, over 7 million tons, was up 2% versus the same period in 2018 based on ITP’s analysis of the latest available statistics.
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